Inasmuch as, insofar as

[nq:1]In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth) crammed together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the compound part without the separated part? Who is responsible for this abomination? Thanks, Jonathan Jones[/nq]
English is Munglish. It depends more on usage
than rules engraved in cement. Comprehendessimo' bro'?

Jai Maharaj

} In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth) crammed } together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the } compound part without the separated part?
Yeah, but this is a family newsgroup.
} Who is responsible for this abomination?
Dr. Reinhold (Rey) Aman.

R. J. Valentine

R J Valentine filted:
[nq:1]} In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth) crammed } together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the } compound part without the separated part? Yeah, but this is a family newsgroup.[/nq]
Nevertheless, you can use them howsoever you want, family notwithstanding..r

[nq:1]In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth) crammed together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the compound part without the separated part? Who is responsible for this abomination?[/nq]
I can't comment upon "insofar," but whoever is responsible for "inasmuch" lived either at the time of or prior to the publication of the King James (Author

Golly! Acouplawords "crammed together" strike this guy as an Instant Abomination!
Golly.

[nq:1]In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth) crammed together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the compound part without the separated part?[/nq]
Yes, apparently so. I was able to locate some by Googling on:

which returns pages that contain "inasmuch" but not "inasmuch as".

In some the "inasmuch" and the "as" are split by

[nq:1]In these phrases, why are the first three words (and not the fourth)crammed together? This seems arbitrary. Is there ever any occasion to use the compound part without the separated part? Who is responsible for this abomination?[/nq]
Printers, I assume. Other examples are al(l)beit, nonetheless and notwithstanding. When words are commonly used together in a particular sense, it makes som

Dear Jonathan,
On "inasmuch as", here's a note from the OED2 entry: "originally three words... subsequently sometimes written as two words, in asmuch , and now (especially since the 17th century) as one".
==
Regards,
VI
http://kenm.mydeardiary.com/

To the original poster:
It's not a case of "words crammed together." It's a case of separate words, "inasmuch" and "insofar."
Bonnie Granat
http://www.granatedit.com

Outrageous! Are we Germans, or are we Americans?!

Regards,
Jonathan Jones
P.S.: ;-)